While every hunt is a special memory and many without kills are more memorable than many of those with, I'd have to say this year's buck was the most satisfying because it was a multi-year effort for a particular animal.
I first spotted this particular buck at what I estimated was his 3 1/2 year mark. It was bitterly cold (single digits and wind for those of you down south :wink: ) and snowy during Minnesota's late muzzleloader season. As is common during that hunt, deer are so spooked after months of being chased, they simply don't come out until near dark and this guy was no exception. I watched him work up the picked field, but alas, ran out of light. I didn't see him again that season.
The next year I never saw him in person, but since my area is literally beaten to death by many hunters, I heard stories. The farm I had seen him on was now leased and I did not have access (though it butts up to my small acreage). Then in December 2009, the day after gun seasons closed, he showed up on a trail camera:
At least I knew he was around and unless a late season bowhunter got him, he was safe for another year.
During 2010 several guys saw him during summer on the leased farm. But as is the case with big bucks, he disappeared when bow season opened. Fortunately for me, he had moved into a thicket on my small property to escape the gun pressure and I spotted him in there. Two days later I set up along the edge and did a little "doe talk." Only a 1/2 hour into daylight, here he came nose to the ground searching for the doe he heard. The area was so brushy it was hard to find the shot, but at 60 yards he passed through a very small opening and my 54 cal Hawken with PRB did the job. He only ran 30 yards. A quick, clean kill.
To have worked toward getting this particular animal over time, and to have accomplished it with a smokepole made this hunt special indeed. To me, every animal's life is a gift from the Maker and special, but this one holds particular meaning.
